Came and method of union for leaded glass windows

ABSTRACT

A came for constructing glass windows, and a method for using the came. The various glass panes are joined by interposing an I-section came with a special geometry of its center bar and of its top and bottom strips. The came is made of lead. The cross section of the came center bar has staggered notches such that a zigzag shape is obtained. The length of the center bar is greater than the thickness of the glass panes, and insertion of the panes between the free strips is simple. Pressure is applied after the came is interposed between the panes compressing the center bar and reducing the spacing of the notches on its sides.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention here disclosed relates to a came for constructingglass windows, and to the method followed when using said came.

[0002] This came has an irregular I-shaped section, comprising twoconvex strips and a centre rib with a special zigzag configuration.

[0003] A property of this came is the approximation of its strips afterapplying a compression force, due to the folding of its centre rib.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Glass window construction techniques involving union with leadand multiple stained glass parts or panes have been known for centuries.

[0005] The earliest construction techniques for these type of glasswindows involve placing the parts to be joined on a flat surface,leaving a space between them.

[0006] In this space is poured molten lead, forming a run such that whenit cools the assembly is consolidated.

[0007] The most widespread construction procedure for these glasswindows involves the use of an I-section lead came with a centre ribwhich is longer than the thickness of the glass panes to be joined.

[0008] This came is placed between the glass panes to be joined and thespace between the top or bottom strips and the glass pane is laterfilled with a putty.

[0009] After the putty is applied, the ends of the came strips arefolded by applying a certain pressure, taking advantage of the ductilityof lead, thereby closing the space in which the putty is contained.

[0010] After this operation the excess putty must be removed.

[0011] The present invention relates to a came with a special geometry,which allows assembly and construction of a glass window formed by theunion of a number of glass panes in a quick operation which does notrequire the use of putty.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The invention object of this document relates to a came andmethod of union for use in constructing glass windows from a number ofglass parts or panes.

[0013] These type of glass windows are commonly used to form artisticelements by combining the shape of the panes and their colours.

[0014] After the glass panes have been arranged, they must be joined toeach other.

[0015] The various techniques which involve lead for joining the glasspanes do so using a lead run which appears as a thick dark line on thegraphical image obtained.

[0016] The technique taught in this invention consists of joining thevarious glass panes by interposing between them an I-section came with aspecial geometry of its centre bar and of its top and bottom strips.

[0017] Said came is made of lead, which provides it with great ductilityso that it may be deformed manually to conform to the shape described bythe generatrix line of the edges of the glass panes which are to bejoined.

[0018] Likewise, said ductility allows a simple pressure union asdescribed hereunder.

[0019] The cross section of the came centre bar has a number ofstaggered notches on both of its sides, such that a zigzag shape isobtained.

[0020] As the length of the centre bar is greater than the thickness ofthe glass panes, insertion of said panes between the free strips issimple.

[0021] After the came is interposed between the panes a pressure appliedon the top and bottom strips compresses the centre bar, reducing thespacing of the notches on its sides.

[0022] This compression implies a plastic deformation of the material ofthe bar, such that when a force is no longer applied the free strips ofthe came will continue to hold the glass panes placed between them.

[0023] In one possible embodiment of the invention the top and bottomstrips of the came may have a convex section, so that after the applyingthe pressure which allows to join the parts a finish is obtained whichdoes not reveal any edges.

[0024] The shape of the notches can vary, and may for example bewedge-shaped or have a sinusoidal bar section, such that an appliedpressure approximates the folds of the bar by plastic deformation of itsmaterial, thereby shortening its length.

[0025] The pressure exerted by the deformed came on the glass partsremains after the compression force ends, so that the additional use ofputty is not required.

[0026] Thus, after a pressure is applied to join the various parts thefinal window is obtained with a good finish, without requiringsubsequent cleaning operations nor touch-ups, with the ensuing saving intime.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The present description is accompanied by a set of drawings,where for purposes of illustration only and in no way meant as adefinition of the limits of the invention a preferred embodiment of theinvention is represented.

[0028]FIG. 1 shows a cross section of the came in an embodiment of theinvention.

[0029]FIGS. 2 and 3 show the cross section of the same came before andafter a pressure is applied to join the parts.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0030] In view of the above, the present invention relates to a came andmethod of union for constructing glass windows formed from a number ofglass parts with outlines of different shapes.

[0031] The preferred embodiment involves an I-shaped came (1) as thatshown in FIG. 1, comprising a centre bar (1.2) and two strips (1.1), onetop strip and one bottom strip.

[0032] In this embodiment the strips (1.1) have a convex upper face,while between them is the centre bar (1.2).

[0033] Centre bar (1.2) is wide and has notches (1.2.1) on either side,resulting in a zigzag structure.

[0034]FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of the glass parts of panes (2) oneither side of the came (1).

[0035] The centre bar of came (1) has a length greater than the width ofglass panes (2) to allow a simple insertion.

[0036] After came (1) is placed between the glass panes (2) a force isapplied on the external faces of strips (1.1) to compress centre bar(1.2).

[0037] The distance between strips (1.1) is shortened as the spacingbetween the notches (1.2.1) is reduced.

[0038] Due to the plastic deformation of centre bar (1.2), the strips(1.1) clamp on the glass panes (2) and thereby join them.

[0039] The essence of this invention is unaltered by variations ofmaterial, shape, size and arrangement of the component elements, whichare described in a non-limiting manner which should allow itsreproduction by an expert.

1. Came for joining leaded glass windows from among those glass windowswhich are formed by glass panes of different shapes, sizes and coloursjoined by lead to form various patterns, characterised in that said came(1) has an I-shaped cross section with top and bottom strips (1.1) whichare preferably convex and a centre bar (1.2)
 2. Came for joining leadedglass windows as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the centrebar (1.2) has a zigzag shape to allow its shortening by compression. 3.Came for joining leaded glass windows as claimed in claim 2,characterised in that the zigzag shape is due to the presence ofalternating wedge-shaped lateral notches (1.2.1).
 4. Came for joiningleaded glass windows as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that thecentre bar (1.2) has a zigzag shape which follows a sinusoidal path. 5.Method for joining leaded glass windows according to the previousclaims, characterised in that came (1) is placed, in accordance with theprevious claims, between two glass panes (2) to be joined and fitted tothe centre bar, adapting the direction line of the came to the shape ofthe antagonistic outlines of the glass panes (2), and in this positionapplying a force of compression between the top and bottom strips (1.1)until the centre bar (1.2) is compressed and the panes (2) on eitherside are clamped.